X-Men: The Last Stand

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

With The Final Stand, the successful series of X-Men closes the trilogy, sadly with half the persons who made it so legendary enjoyable. Director Brian Singer wanted to breath mutation into Superman Returns first and finish his creation after the flying superhero. However Fox didn't want to wait because both the cast and possible spin-offs were waiting around the corner. So Brian Singer couldn't finish his creation with the labor of love he gave the series the last couple of years, and took editor composer John Ottman and screenwriters with him, sadly leaving a hole into the whole creative process of X-Men. Brett Ratner who amusingly left Superman Returns took the place instead and wanted to make sure X-3: The Last Stand became the final film the fans would be proud of. He somewhat succeeded. While the movie is a superb special effects film and continues the strong trend of acting and not merely performing, it still lacks the finesse that Singer brought in the first 2 films and sadly hasn't got the development in character building, because the movie only lasts a good hour and a half. Again I've said it countless times before, I really like the movie but Singer could have made of a great result a superb one. So with the departure of the composer John Ottman (who despite people's comments did a great job on the second film) the X-Men franchise had to go for a 3rd different composer for the films. After Michael Kamen and John Ottman came the most surprising choice of all, John Powell. While his serious voice never left the man he still had to wickedly amuse us in Ice periods, Running chicks or spying kids. Therefore a gig as this had to bring the ultimate epic galore with it, and meaning, John Powell has never done that before, not on this level at least. So it was with great anticipation I was looking forward to both film and score. And like the film, I really like the effort but it perhaps could have been just a bit more. However I still think this has to do with the mere fact that John Powell sounds so Un John Powellish like in X-3: The Last Stand.

Yes its freaking to say but Powell's trademarks, theme wise constructions or basic orchestrations is far to be heard in X-3, but this also works to the positive side which means you get a Powell score full of new twists, starting already with 'Bathroom Titles' in which Powell creates a new X-Men theme but still linking it with the other themes of the 2 previous films. Its funny that 3 themes are different but sound alike, this due to the manner and orchestration surrounding it. Anyway hearing it over the titles in the cinema is the first feast of the movie. Another theme and the real thrill ride of this score is Phoenix' theme or Famke Janssen's theme, stated very faintly with the main theme in '20 Years Ago' and first softly in 'Meet Leech, Then Off to the Lake' and growing in 'Whirlpool of Love', this with strings and frightening choir. Surprisingly, Powell almost never uses his singers in tonal form, creating more an atonal scary and dangerous edge instead. 'Dark Phoenix', 'Rejection is never Easy' and in 'Entering the House' for instance it sounds that way. This a bit to my disappointment. However how he unleashes the Phoenix theme in pure action ruckus in 'Dark Phoenix's Tragedy' is a joy to behold. The brass and drums sets off the rhythm at hand while the strings create around it the emotion, and in between the Phoenix theme rises to its fullest maximum, its truly Xhilerating and its a track that amazes me in the film and on CD easily. With 'Farewell to X' the choir returns and 'The Funeral' brings forward a sub emotive theme that grows nicely but never quite gets the goosebumps effects I felt during for instance Hellboy's funeral moment. This however is another theme or sub theme Powell unleashes and include to them also the themes of Angel and perhaps briefly Magneto, Angel's rising heroic theme is underused and is even missing from the final tracks when he does his heroic duty, but still flies nicely in 'Angel's Cure' and during the end track. Surprisingly Powell's softer material limps a bit behind like in 'Skating on the Pond' using the main theme but Powell's music does that a bit during the other tracks too, or at least during moments. With 'Cure Wars' comes an atonal rise of drums, whirling strings and marching action music which is based on the main and Angel's theme. It still remains thrilling enough however. And 'Fight in the Woods' has apart from the growling brass the main theme briefly along with a wonderful emotional charged Phoenix' statement.

'Building Bridges' isn't the moment you refer in the film, because that is 'Shock and no Oars' and here again the atonal choir is heard, creating despair and true panic but loses a bit of its epic qualities during it, however the track still rumbles aplenty. With 'Attack on Alcatraz' the final feast begins, bringing a powerful battle between brass, energy and choir and while lacking a true fluent development, its still Xgripping as hell. With the main theme and actually the first Powell moment I noticed (being a Chicken Run of all surprises), playful action music develops, and it works surprisingly well. With 'Massacre' the brief choir returns while 'The Battle of the Cure' limps a bit behind with its on and off action music, here lacking the Angel's reprise. However where Powell truly scored big is with his 2 most explosive themes. The X-men theme is not as important here as Phoenix' theme and in 'Phoenix Rises' it truly shines. Again in the film and on CD the theme rises from atonal choir to finally a melodic support of the Phoenix theme, and hearing this theme rise in epic choir over the screen and speakers is a true feast no matter what, its that Xstounding. 'The Last Stand' brings forward all the important themes, the funeral theme, Angel's cool theme, the brief sub theme for Magneto (which is barely remembered), the main theme and Phoenix theme, they're all there! And while this is more then aplenty for any fan, X-3: The Last Stand still has several remarks. First of all the score is mostly glued together and while this makes for perhaps fluent listening, the score at times feels funny shifting from one track to another in mood. And while the choir is of great use during the many battles, again it links itself too much with danger and not like in X-Men 2 or in tracks 'Phoenix Rises' to epic fantasy music. However where Powell shines is in the themes he created for the picture and the rising quality of his Phoenix theme alone. While John Powell's musical voice isn't that heard in the score (making sure the surprising listening experience is high), it makes also the intriguing factor stronger then ever. And in the line of X-Men scores, it never limps behind. You know what Powell's X-Men name would be after hearing this CD? Virtuoso! Its that Xgaging despite the remarks!

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. 20 Years Ago (1.10)

2. Bathroom Titles (1.08) Excellent Track

3. The Church Of Magneto, Raven Is My Slave Name (2.40)

4. Meet Leech, Then Off To The Lake (2.38)

5. Whirlpool Of Love (2.02) Excellent Track

6. Examining Jean (1.11)

7. Dark Phoenix (1.28)

8. Angel's Cure (2.32)

9. Jean And Logan (1.39)

10. Dark Phoenix Awakes (1.44)

11. Rejection Is Never Easy (1.08)

12. Magneto Plots (2.05)

13. Entering The House (1.18)

14. Dark Phoenix's Tragedy (3.15) Excellent Track

15. Farewell To X (0.30)

16. The Funeral (2.52)

17. Skating On The Pond (1.12)

18. Cure Wars (2.59)

19. Fight In The Woods (3.04)

20. St Lupus Day (3.03)

21. Building Bridges (1.16)

22. Shock And No Oars (1.16)

23. Attack On Alcatraz (4.37) Excellent Track

24. Massacre (0.31)

25. The Battle Of The Cure (4.21)

26. Phoenix Rises (4.21) Excellent Track

27. The Last Stand (5.29) Excellent Track

Total Length: 61.38

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: John Powell ===